New Warriors (Vol. 5) #1

Background

The New Warriors was a series created by Marvel initially with the purpose of introducing newer, younger, characters. During that first run, the original Scarlet Spider would occasionally join the team. Since that time, the team’s only been used on and off, but the most noticeable event they were involved in was the lead-off to Civil War. Since then, most of the characters have only appeared sporadically, if at all. Well, it’s about time for a new team and a new chance at the title….

Story Details

In an undisclosed location, a humanoid bull-creature slowly tries to escape his fate. However, his assailant, presumably the High Evolutionary, kills him, stating that he was never meant to be.

Jump to a new scene, where Speedball (Robbie Baldwin for those not in the know…or for those who remember him as Penance) and Justice (Vance Astrovik) are fighting what appear to be a team of villains in New Salem, Colorado. As team members of the original New Warriors, it’s good to see some consistency in this book! However, before the fight can go too far, we’re told the other team was attacked BY Robbie, who thought they were villains based on appearances. Whoops!

In Mexico, Kaine and Aracely (welcome back, guys!) are re-treading scenes from Scarlet Spider vol.2 #25. If you read that issue (or just my review), this is the part where Kaine initially appears to leave the couple to their fate. However, this time, we see his attack. After saving the couple, Kaine immediately turns and yells at them to get out of Mexico, to Aracely’s chagrin.

Meanwhile, in New York, Sun Girl (Selah Burke) takes down a small crime of her own. If you’re not familiar with her, she was a part of Yost’s run on Superior Spider-Man Team-Up. After she’s finished, she intercepts a radio transmission about a disturbance in the Grand Central Terminal, which is conveniently below her! Not so conveniently, it explodes.

Back in New Salem, Speedball has managed to make friends with the man he attacked. Turns out the team is called Salem’s Seven and they’re “children of the devil” (which to me seems to be much more common among magical super heroes than you’d think). The whole town is full of people born of magic and Salem’s Seven protects them. Vertigo, a member of the Seven, knows of the New Warriors, but only due to their involvement in Civil War. Justice is pained by this and is unsure if there’s even a place for them. However, before the two can discuss this further, they’re interrupted by the arrival of a trio of mysterious Iron Man-looking robots, claiming that there is a “half-breed mutant” and that all must be destroyed.

Cutting back to Mexico, we come to what we saw at the conclusion of Kaine’s tale as the tide rolls in red. The reason? The blood of slain Atlanteans. Faira Sar Namora of Atlantis appears seeking heroes.

In New York, Sun Girl investigates the explosion, only to find more of the Iron Man things attacking Marrow and the Morlocks. Finally, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the newest Nova (Sam Alexander) is being attacked by some gross looking monster. Being just a kid, he’s fairly bothered by this. The creatures is ultimately subdued by more of the Iron Man-things. Before any questions can be answered though, the High Evolutionary arrives and knocks the young Nova unconscious. The trio (called Evolutionaries) are his subordinates and he plans to use them, and his new Nova, to save the human race…

General Comments

: Ahhh..another new series. But I tell you, I really enjoyed this issue! A nice set-up, that reminds me a bit of the first run of New Avengers- take a team of unrelated super heroes, throw them together, and see what happens!

I feel like this is a good start. We have an intriguing mystery- why has the High Evolutionary decided to kill his creations? What are his subordinates doing across the globe? Were they responsible for Atlantis (almost definitely yes)? And how will Yost bring all these heroes together with all of them scattered across North America right now?

Of course, my biggest investment in this story currently is Kaine, but I am interested in Speedball and Justice, as well as Sun Girl. I’m hoping Yost’s story telling is a bit stronger here than we saw in Scarlet Spider, but I’m excited to give this a try.

Story wise, there’s not enough to comment on right now. We have some intriguing set-up, so I’m hoping over the course of the next several issues we see some pay off as well. I don’t want this adventure to end too soon, because I feel like there’s still a ton to establish first. But as of now, I have high hopes.

Overall Rating

An interesting opener. I can’t wait to see what happens next, though I hope the pay off is more rewarding than some of what we’ve seen from Yost before. I don’t think this series will have a long run, but I look forward to what we’ll get from it in it’s time!